Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Three-dimensional space-defining
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2001-03-27
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Three-dimensional space-defining
C052S655100, C052S656900, C312S265400, C403S170000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205738
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a frame for forming a housing of a group of air-handling units, and more particularly to a frame including extruded plastic angle column and integrally injection molded plastic three-way union for forming a housing of a group of air-handling units. The angle column and the three-way union of the present invention may effectively solve the problem of condensate on the housing of the air-handling units and therefore reduces energy consumption by the air-handling units.
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional housing for a group of air-handling units. As shown, the housing includes a frame that is constructed by welding required numbers of angle steel columns
1
to enclose the air-handling units. Wall panels
11
are then attached to outer sides of the angle steel columns
1
. Following are some disadvantages of the above-described conventional housing for the air-handling units:
1. It is extremely time and labor consumed to weld the angle steel columns
1
into a frame and connect the frame to the air-handling units. The frame so formed therefore requires higher production cost.
2. Due to the effects of air convection and high coefficient of thermal conduction of the angle steel column, the panels
11
and the frame
1
tend to have a surface temperature lower than a dew-point temperature of the ambient air outside the housing of the air-handling units. This condition causes condensate on the housing of the air-handling units and brings troubles to manufacturers and users.
3. There are various types of air-handling units in the markets from three to several hundred tons of refrigeration. The angle steel columns
1
further increase the volume and weight and accordingly the difficulty of transportation of the air-handling units.
It is therefore desirable to develop a frame including plastic angle columns and unions for constructing the housing of the air-handling units to eliminate the disadvantages existing in the conventional housing formed from welded angle steel columns.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved frame including plastic hollow angle columns and plastic three-way unions that can be easily assembled to form a housing of a group of air-handling units. The plastic hollow angle column has low coefficient of thermal conduction and defines closed internal spaces in which static air exists to provide good heat insulation. The problem of condensate on the surfaces of the frame
1
and the panels
11
of the housing for the air-handling units can therefore be effectively solved.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame including plastic hollow angle columns and plastic three-way unions that can be easily assembled to form a housing of a group of air-handling units. Chemical adhesive such as Methyl Benzene may be applied to joints between the plastic angle columns and the plastic three-way unions to firmly adhered them to one another, preventing separated joints possibly caused by vibration force applied on the frame by the air-handling units during operation or transportation. The firmly joined plastic angle columns and three-way unions also prevent undesired leaks on the housing of the air-handling units and accordingly leakage of cool air from the housing when the air-handling units are in operation.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a frame including plastic hollow angle columns and plastic three-way unions that can be easily assembled to form a housing of a group of air-handling units after the units have been sent to a construction site. The difficulty in transporting a group of bulky and heavy air-handling units can therefore be eliminated. In the case of replacing a group of old air-handling units with a new units in a building, the plastic angle columns may be cut to required lengths at the construction site to meet the actual dimensions of space for mounting the air-handling units and avoid the trouble of knocking off any part of the building.
The installation of the air-handling units can therefore be simplified and accomplished with reduced labor and time.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3044656 (1962-07-01), Combs et al.
patent: 3353854 (1967-11-01), Hansen
patent: 3877138 (1975-04-01), Suchowski
patent: 4516376 (1985-05-01), King
patent: 4782637 (1988-11-01), Eriksson et al.
patent: 4900108 (1990-02-01), Tischer
patent: 5011323 (1991-04-01), Liuo
patent: 5516225 (1996-05-01), Kvols
Dougherty & Troxell
Friedman Carl D.
Wilkens Kevin D.
Yang Fan Development Co., Ltd.
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